Engine not turning over

[buck1x]

97 Oldsmobile Aurora. Periodically the key enables the lights and gauges but no click for starter or engine turnover. Feels like Park/Neutral sensor failure but I don't know enough to tell. Three times so far and if I come back to pick it up in a few hours it starts right up. Fuel pressure sensor somewhere? Security of some type? A thread mentioned the resistor in the key. I will try but it seems that having tried to start it about 30 times, one of them should have fit just right. I am trying to find the manuals for it now.

[treeboy38]

I,d start with the easiest option (in my opinion), the FPR.

Fuel pressure Regulator

It's a common problem of classics and should probably be change if you haven't changed it.

[dsatt12]

Originally Posted by treeboy38

I,d start with the easiest option (in my opinion), the FPR.

Fuel pressure Regulator

It's a common problem of classics and should probably be change if you haven't changed it.

How is this addressing his engine not turning over at all? 187,000 miles and that particular bogeyman hasn't hit me yet...

My car did this once (so far...). I yanked all the ignition fuses and relays under the back seat and tested them. Once I buttoned everything back up it started, though on the SECOND turn of the key *shrug*. I don't know how to check the park/neutral switch off the top of my head. My service manual had that and the fuses at the top of the checklist for not turning over though. It was then followed by starter ground connections and such, then components.

[buck1x]

Thank you both. I thought of the fuel system for two reasons. First that there may be an interlock that keeps the starter relay from engaging if the fuel system has a problem. I got there through the fact that the three times the car has had this problem it solved itself over a period of hours. Also because I thought the fuel pump has been getting noisier over the last few months. Reading these posts, I now believe my air compressor is going bad. I didn't know what to do about the pressure regulator though. I am looking for a book now. I did the fuse check under the back seat and it did not do anything. Another post pointed at the key security which makes sense also. I am now waiting for it to fail again to see what fixes it!

[treeboy38]

something else you can try is to go buy a can of compressesd air. attach thelittle straw to the can, insert the straw into the ignition keywhole and blow some air into it. sometimes that whole will get dusty and will not read the key well (or not at all). good luck

[buck1x]

Good idea treeboy. I put a can of computor cleaner compressed air in the trunk. Also I am carrying my wifes key in case my resister is worn or something. I am almost hoping it will fail now so I can try to fix it!